Madhuri Dixit () (born
Madhuri Shankar Dixit on 15 May 1967)
is an Indian
Bollywood actress. Throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, she established herself as one of Hindi cinema's leading actresses and accomplished dancers.
She appeared in numerous commercial successes and was recognised for several performances as well as dance numbers in various films. Dixit is often cited by the media as one of the most prominent female actresses in Bollywood.
In 2008, she was awarded the
Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian award by the
Government of India.
Early life
Madhuri Dixit is a native of
Mumbai, India. She was born
Madhuri Shankar Dixit to Shankar and Snehlata Dixit, of a
Marathi Chitpavan Brahmin family. Dixit attended
Divine Child High School and
Mumbai University and wanted to be a microbiologist.
She is an accomplished
Kathak dancer and trained for eight years.
Film career
Madhuri Dixit made her acting debut in
Abodh (1984). After a few minor and supporting roles in movies like
Dayvaan and
Vardi, she landed the lead female role in
Tezaab (1988)
[www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=194&catName=MTk4OA==], which shot her to stardom, and for which she received her first Filmfare nomination. She then starred in a number of hits that included
Ram Lakhan (1989),
Parinda (1989),
Tridev (1989), and
Kishen Kanhaiya (1990).
In 1990, Dixit starred in
Indra Kumar's romantic-drama
Dil, alongside
Aamir Khan. She played the role of Madhu Mehra, a rich and arrogant young girl who falls in love with Raja, played by Khan, and later leaves her house in order to marry him. The film became one of the biggest box-office hits of the year in India
[www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=196&catName=MTk5MA==], and Dixit's performance earned her the first
Filmfare Best Actress Award of her career.
She followed
Dil with another line of hits, including
Saajan (1991),
Beta (1992),
[www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=198&catName=MTk5Mg==] Khalnayak (1993),
Hum Aapke Hain Kaun! (1994), and
Raja (1995). Dixit's performance in
Beta, that of a woman married to an illiterate, well-meaning man who exposes her scheming mother-in-law, won her a second Filmfare Award for Best Actress.
Hum Aapke Hain Kaun! became one of the biggest grossers ever in the history of Hindi cinema. It went on to collect over Rs. 650 million in India and over Rs. 150 million overseas, and won Dixit her third Filmfare Best Actress Award. In that same year, Dixit was also nominated in the same category for her performance in
Anjaam, which won her critical acclaim.
After an unsuccessful year in 1996, Dixit appeared as Pooja in
Yash Chopra's
Dil To Pagal Hai (1997). The film was a major national success, both critically and commercially, and Dixit won her fourth
Filmfare Best Actress Award.
In that same year, Dixit starred in
Prakash Jha's critically acclaimed
Mrityudand. The film was known for straddling the boundary between a commercial and an
art film. It won the Best Feature Film award at the Cinéma Tout Ecran in Geneva and the Bangkok Film Festival. Dixit's performance in the film landed her the Best Actress award at the annual
Star Screen Awards.
Dixit is not only known for her acting skills
[specials.rediff.com/movies/2008/may/14slde1.htm][specials.rediff.com/movies/2006/may/11sld1.htm][www.indianexpress.com/oldStory/31345/][ specials.rediff.com/movies/2007/may/15sld1.htm][movies.indiatimes.com/quickies/msid-3329925.cms], but for her dancing skills as well
[specials.rediff.com/movies/2008/apr/03sld1.htm]. Her dance sequences, accompanying famous Bollywood songs such as
Ek Do Teen (from
Tezaab),
Humko Aaj Kal Hai (from
Sailaab),
Bada Dukh Deenha (from
Ram Lakhan),
Dhak Dhak (from
Beta),
Chane Ke Khet Mein (from
Anjaam),
Didi Tera Devar Deewana (from
Hum Aapke Hain Kaun!),
Choli Ke Peechhe (from
Khalnayak),
Akhiyan Milaun (from
Raja),
Mera Piya Ghar Aaya (from
Yaarana),
Kay Sera Sera (from
Pukar),
Maar Daala (from
Devdas), among others, have received abundant critical acclaim.
In 2002, she starred in
Sanjay Leela Bhansali's
Devdas with
Shahrukh Khan and
Aishwarya Rai. Her performance was applauded and earned her a
Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award. The film attracted worldwide attention and was featured at the
Cannes Film Festival.
The following year a film named after her,
Main Madhuri Dixit Banna Chahti Hoon!, was released
in which a woman (played by
Antara Mali) aspires to become the new Madhuri Dixit by trying her luck in the Bollywood industry.
[www.indianexpress.com/oldStory/31345/][ specials.rediff.com/movies/2007/may/15sld1.htm]
On 25 February 2006 she performed on stage for the first time in six years at the
Filmfare Awards to music from her last movie
Devdas.
[ ] Her performance was choreographed by
Saroj Khan.
Madhuri Dixit has been the
muse for the famous Indian painter
M.F. Husain who considers her the epitome of womanhood. Hence he made a film named
Gaja Gamini (2000) in which Madhuri acted. The film was intended as a tribute to Ms. Dixit herself.
[ ] In this film she can be seen portraying various forms and manifestations of womanhood including the muse of
Kalidasa, Leonardo's
Mona Lisa, a rebel, and an incarnation of musical euphoria.
On 7 December 2006, Dixit returned to
Mumbai along with her husband and sons to start filming for
Aaja Nachle (2007).
The film released in November 2007 and despite the critics panning it, Dixit's performance was highly appreciated
[movies.indiatimes.com/Reviews/Bollywood/Aaja-Nachle/articleshow/2585202.cms][movies.ndtv.com/movie_Story.aspx?id=ENTEN20070034197&keyword=&subcatg=][www.indianexpress.com/news/shes-back/242577/], with the
New York Times commenting about her that "she's still got it".
On Women's International Day in 2007, Dixit topped
Rediff's list of the Best Bollywood Actresses Ever.
In May 2008,she was given a tribute by Indian Film Festival at Los Angeles.
[www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MSz_P_oxbI&feature=related]
Personal life
In 1999, Madhuri Dixit married Shriram Madhav Nene, a
UCLA-trained cardiovascular surgeon who practices in
Denver[www.guardian.co.uk/world/1999/nov/08/bollywood.film][www.indianexpress.com/ie/daily/19991220/ien19020.html][ www.rediff.com/news/1999/nov/06us2.htm]. Dr. Nene is also from a
Marathi Konkanastha Brahmin family. She has two sons, Arin (born on 18 March 2003 in
Colorado) and Raayan (born on 8 March 2005 in
Colorado).
She has two elder sisters, Rupa and Bharati, and an elder brother, Ajit. Madhuri and her family reside in
Denver,
Colorado,USA.
Awards and nominations
Filmfare Awards
Won
Nominated
Star Screen Awards
Won
Nominated
Zee Cine Awards
Won
Nominated
IIFA Awards
Nominated
Stardust Awards
Nominated
Honours and recognitions
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Other notes
|
| 1984 | Abodh | Gauri |
|
| 1985 | Awara Baap | |
|
| 1986 | Swati | Anandi |
|
| 1987 | Mohre | |
|
| Hifazat | Janki |
|
| Uttar Dakshin | Chanda |
|
| 1988 | Khatron Ke Khiladi | Kavita |
|
| Dayavan | Neela Velhu |
|
| Tezaab | Mohini | Nominated, Filmfare Best Actress Award
|
| 1989 | Vardi | Jaya |
|
| Ram Lakhan | Radha |
|
| Prem Pratigyaa | Laxmi | Nominated, Filmfare Best Actress Award
|
| Ilaaka | Vidya |
|
| Mujrim | Sonia |
|
| Tridev | Divya Mathur |
|
| Kanoon Apna Apna | Bharathi |
|
| Parinda | Paro | India's official entry to the Oscars
|
| Paap Ka Anth | |
|
| 1990 | Maha Sangram | |
|
| Kishen Kanhaiya | Anju |
|
| Izzatdaar | Mohini |
|
| Dil | Madhu Mehra | Winner, Filmfare Best Actress Award
|
| Deewana Mujh Sa Nahin | Anita |
|
| Jeevan Ek Sangharsh | Madhu Sen |
|
| Sailaab | Dr. Sushma |
|
| Jamai Raja | Rekha |
|
| Thanedaar | Chanda |
|
| 1991 | Pyaar Ka Devata | Devi |
|
| Khilaaf | Sweta |
|
| 100 Days | Devi |
|
| Pratikaar | Madhu |
|
| Saajan | Pooja | Nominated, Filmfare Best Actress Award
|
| Prahaar | Shirley |
|
| 1992 | Beta | Saraswati | Winner, Filmfare Best Actress Award
|
| Zindagi Ek Jua | Juhi |
|
| Prem Deewane | Shivangi Mehra |
|
| Khel | Seema/Dr.Jadi Buti |
|
| Sangeet | |
|
| 1993 | Dharavi | Dreamgirl |
|
| Sahibaan | Sahibaan |
|
| Khalnayak | Ganga (Gangotri Devi) | Nominated, Filmfare Best Actress Award
|
| Phool | |
|
| Dil Tera Aashiq | Sonia Khanna/Savitri Devi |
|
| Aansoo Bane Angaray | |
|
| 1994 | Anjaam | Shivani Chopra | Nominated, Filmfare Best Actress Award
|
| Hum Aapke Hain Koun...! | Nisha Choudhury | Winner, Filmfare Best Actress Award
|
| 1995 | Raja | Madhu Garewal | Nominated, Filmfare Best Actress Award
|
| Yaraana | Lalita/Shikha | Nominated, Filmfare Best Actress Award
|
| 1996 | Prem Granth | Kajri |
|
| Paapi Devta | |
|
| Raj Kumar | |
|
| 1997 | Koyla | Gauri |
|
| Mahaanta | Jenny Pinto |
|
| Mrityudand | Phoolva | Nominated, Filmfare Best Actress Award
|
| Mohabbat | Shweta Sharma |
|
| Dil To Pagal Hai | Pooja | Winner, Filmfare Best Actress Award
|
| 1998 | Bade Miyan Chhote Miyan | Madhuri Dixit | Special appearance
|
| Wajood | Apoorva Choudhury |
|
| 1999 | Aarzoo | Pooja |
|
| 2000 | Pukar | Anjali | Nominated, Filmfare Best Actress Award
|
| Gaja Gamini | Gaja Gamini/Sangita/Shakuntala/Monika/Mona Lisa |
|
| 2001 | Yeh Raaste Hain Pyaar Ke | Neha |
|
| Lajja | Janki | Nominated, Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award
|
| 2002 | Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam | Radha |
|
| Devdas | Chandramukhi | Winner, Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award India's official entry to the Oscars
|
| 2007 | Aaja Nachle | Diya | Nominated, Filmfare Best Actress Award
|
